IMPRESSIONS FROM THE 2007 SHOW

British Amateur Home-produced Arabian Championships 2007

By Samantha Mattocks, (The Arabian Magazine)

The running of this inaugural show took place at Myerscough College on 19 August. The show was founded and run by Sally Etchells, who decided to put her money where her mouth is when the Arab Horse Society cancelled the home-produced classes at this year’s National Show. “I decided to put the show on as I thought that it was such a shame that the classes were cancelled,” explained Sally. “I think that the amount of support that we received through the high entries emphasises that a show purely for the amateurs and for those who produce the horses themselves is needed in this country.”
With Mike Ashmore very generously sponsoring the entry fees of all exhibitors and sponsorship from Al Aryam Arabians and Equus Eye among others, the judges of Judith Evans (halter) and Ann Hooley (ridden) organised and the scene was set for a great day.
The first halter class, for pure-bred geldings and stallions, had 20 entries with 14 forward on the day and many of those watching outside the arena did not envy the judge’s job in sorting through the exhibits. In the end, it was Sophie Tyne’s smart 11-year-old gelding, Eternal Spirit (Ernal x Lady of Shallot) who came to the top and Sophie was, understandably, delighted with her win. In second place was Jane Miller with Azif (Az Zeem x Amellita Bint Lavado) just ahead of Ocean Eliat (Carmargue** x Serraya), exhibited by Claire Doxey. With the top six in each class receiving goody bags, Wind Wizard, exhibited by Emma Duncan, Zinjadi, exhibited by Lisa Breeze, and HT Orient, exhibited by Judy Ainley, made up the final placings.
Shelley Taylor won the pure-bred mare class with Vaddiyah (ex Heloua*), a 13-year-old daughter of Vodolej**. In second place was Danna Ing with Amour Etoile (Star of the Seasons x Zaphelia) and in third was Fifi Dances with Dreams (Gay Vadavar x Romana Bint Lavado), exhibited by Lauren Williams. Yvonne Jaundrell with Kajayya, Lauren Young with Agonia and T Hargreaves with Vanity Fayre made up the top six.
The first championship of the day took place and was awarded to Sophie Tyne with the lovely grey Eternal Spirit ahead of another grey, Vaddiyah.
The pure-bred mixed youngstock, again, had 20 entries with 14 forward and Sally says that if the show goes ahead again next year and is as well supported, that the classes will be divided. The outstanding winner of this class was Alan Hackley’s three-year-old Psaracen (Psynergy* x Miss Aukubra). With a dynamic trot, Psaracen was the clear winner of this class and he also took the Junior Pure-bred Championship. In second place – and taking the reserve title – was Lorna Green with Shavetta (Focus Shatino x Levetta), a three-year old filly. Both Alan and Lorna were delighted with their placings especially as, as is often the case with the youngstock, this was one of the strongest classes of the day. In third place was the black SH Taboo (G Tamin** x SH Sabrina), exhibited by June Greenwood. Bay Ffantasy with Tanya Betts, Judals Miamara with Ean Mitchell and Zayvenka with Sarah Mellor made up the top six.
Sadly, there were only two forward from the nine entered for the Anglo/part-bred youngstock class, but they were both high-quality colts. The coloured full brothers Incandescent Flame and Aka Starbucks Champagne Star (TP Starbuck x Malibu Surfbreaker) were shown respectively by Alan Girdwood and Kent Pledger, with the older colt, Incandescent Flame, taking the honours. The brothers kept their placings in the Junior Anglo/part-bred Championship and it was a shame that there were not more forward in this section to make it more of a competition.
The final halter class was the mixed senior Anglo/part-bred class, which had 12 entries. The winner here was the 12-year-old gelding Fairlyn First Edition (Fairlyn Fanfare x Seaholme Scintilla), exhibited by William Stainburn. Taking second place was another 12-year-old gelding, Jurgen (Juravel Ox x Sasjas), exhibited by J Wright and C McFadden; the top two were also awarded the champion and reserve titles. BH Minnesota (Andes x Chopard) was in third place under the guidance of Annie Swale. Lorraine Robertson with Bronach Serenade, Victoria Mylius with Apres Moi and Miss E Didlick with Pricklegate Minim made up the final placings.
Ann Hooley took over in the ring for the ridden classes, which began with the pure-bred ridden geldings. With an amazing 27 entries received for this section alone, the class was split into two and the winner of the first section was the seasoned-campaigner Flaxman’s Sid (Ibn Baradda x Flaxman’s Gwanisa), ridden and produced by Victoria Mylius. This pairing has had a lot of success on the ridden circuit and they provide a good example of how well you can produce your own horse without the need for professionals. In second place was Alison Embleton with Aybac (Borneo*** x Ashiqa) ahead of Suzanne Cruise on Galoul (Kasadi x Lusinda). Kiri Thorogood-Le’vell on OAS Plashaal, Claire Doxey on Ocean Eilat and Anne Thomson on Zydeek made up the top six.
Emma Duncan won the second ridden gelding class on Wind Wizard (Saiyid El Kheil x Wind Chime) ahead of another well-known pairing, Georgina Rees on Valletta Madeira (Hunters Song x High Elms Mahrahna). Louisa Simpson was third on Shesk (Sharm El Sheikh x Rose of Bediya) and Charlotte Lambert, Ka Emir Esteem, Shelagh Cuddon, Shadenco, and Sophie Tyne, Eternal Spirit, completed the top six.
The pure-bred ridden mare class was won by Alex Pemberton on the 10-year-old Mandereine (Manavah x Reinatta). In second was a mare who has done everything, Silver Tiffany (Silver Satyr x Bint Bint Kezarah), exhibited by S Rhodes and A Starkie. Florence Evans took third place with DF Musette (Bambooki x Minuette). Ceri Phipps-Hewlett was fourth with Ikhtira, T Hargreaves took fifth with Vanity Fayre and Emma Dickinson-Gater was sixth with Crystal Atlantis.
Of five entries in the pure-bred ridden stallion class, only three were forward and first place was awarded to the eight-year-old Ledarb Silver Blue Sovereign (Red Shadow x Makacz), exhibited by Kerry MacDougall. Julie Hilton was second with Aja Ben Nazif (FS Bengali**** x Naazife) ahead of Bev Walton on Amir Mostafa (Mostafa x Mabay Pearl).
Wind Wizard took the Pure-bred Ridden Championship ahead of Flaxman’s Sid.
In the final class of the day, Fairlyn First Edition continued with his success from the morning, taking the mixed ridden Anglo/part-bred class with exhibitor Lynsey Stainburn. In second place was Linda Reilly with Aphrodite (Amerigo Vespucci x Daytona), a nine-year-old mare. The top two maintained their positions in the Anglo/part-bred Ridden Championship. Natalie Brookfield was in third place with Bushburn Aramist (Aimbry Chester x Euqa) and Joan Wright on Jurgen, Ceri Phipps-Hewlett on Hurstpark Jubilee and Miss E Didlick on Pricklegate Minim completed the top six.
All that was left to do was award the Supreme Champion of the Show and, deservedly, it went to Fairlyn First Edition, much to the delight of Lynsey. Lynsey received a beautiful watch, kindly donated by the President of the Arab Horse Society, All Hallworth, and all the champions received a great assortment of prizes ranging from rugs to prize money.
After the event, Judith said how impressed both she and Ann were with the presentation of the horses and how well turned out each exhibit was. “The performance by everyone on the day shows that it is possible to produce a horse well yourself,” she said. “Many congratulations to all exhibitors, it was an honour to be invited to judge.”
Sally would like to thank everyone who generously gave up their time to help either before the show or on the day itself and also to the sponsors of the show. She is already planning to run the show again next year and have it on the day before the British Arabian Championships, rather than running at the same time. Judging from the response to this year’s show, a future event would be very welcome and well-supported from amateurs everywhere.

Photos on this page - kindly donated by Dean Ingham Photography